If Peter Schultz cos to the Xilin Mathematics Research Institute, then it's highly likely that the institute will have three Fields dal recipients in the near future.
For a still-young Mathematics Research Institute, this is absolutely a dream-like beginning.
What feels most satisfying to everyone is the news of Peter Schultz coming for an exchange appointnt. This is akin to delivering a powerful slap to the face of a certain country fond of blacklisting universities for sanctions.
It also serves as an example to the world that Xilin University of Technology only flourishes more as it faces sanctions.
But what's most important of all is the commanding influence these three big nas hold in the global academic community.
Especially with Qiao Ze and Peter Schultz being at the peak of their careers—what happens in the future of the global mathematics community might truly be decided by Huaxia, by Xilin.
Thus, the little bit of good mood Professor Han had due to being able to choose his apartnt first unexpectedly vanished, replaced instead by a slight twinge of envy.
"Alright, Han, don't make that face. This exchange isn't just a teaching appointnt; you'll also have the chance to do so collaboration at the Planck Institute for Mathematics. You stand to gain a lot."
"Fine, I still have a class to teach in Qiao's section."
"No problem, Professor Han. Later on, just leave a copy of your teaching materials for reference. I'll cover one sester for your class this term. My own classes are already scheduled for the sophomore year."
"Exactly, once sophomore year starts, my teaching schedule is free. I'll pick up Liu's section and cover for you during sophomore year's first sester. You can focus fully on the exchange; we'll take good care of things at ho. The students won't fall behind."
The warm and harmonious atmosphere in the office was truly heartwarming.
...
Li Jiangao didn't waste any ti; on the sa day, he sent over all the relevant docunts for Professor Han.
As for the efficiency on the other side, no one was particularly concerned.
There were still more than ten days left before the New Year, and this wasn't an extrely urgent task. There was no need for Professor Han to rush over before the holiday.
In fact, to accommodate Professor Han's wishes, the institute allowed Han Wenqing to take a holiday period starting early, ensuring he could return ho to recharge properly. They even approved his annual leave this year to extend until after the Lantern Festival, so Han Wenqing could head to Bonn after the festival was over.
But what no one expected was that just as Han Wenqing had begun his vacation and returned ho to prepare for his year-long Bonn exchange, Peter Schultz arrived at Xilin quietly and unexpectedly.
Indeed, quietly and unexpectedly—with no prior notice sent to the Xilin Mathematics Research Institute. He flew solo into Huaxia Capital, didn't even leave the airport, transferred directly to a flight heading to Xilin, and then took a cab straight to the institute.
To Peter Schultz, he really didn't need any special reception. After all, he had been here once before. This trip was more of a revisitation, and he ca fully prepared. The temporary SIM card he had purchased during his previous visit to Huaxia was still active because he kept renewing it, so it remained usable. His phone was equipped with a translation app as well.
Key addresses he needed to visit had already been saved in his phone. Showing the drivers an address was all it took.
And so, at 2:10 PM on January 27, 2025—the day before New Year's Eve of the Year of the Snake—Peter Schultz arrived in front of the Xilin Mathematical Research Institute's building, yet the people inside had not received any official notification.
Thankfully, there was Dou Dou.
Although Qiao Ze had already received a ssage from Dou Dou earlier in the morning informing him that Peter Schultz had boarded a dostic flight bound for Xilin, because the other party hadn't sent an official announcent stating he had arrived, Qiao Ze decided it was better not to complicate things unnecessarily and didn't bother arranging for soone to pick him up at the airport.
However, by the ti Peter Schultz finally arrived, Qiao Ze was already downstairs with Edward Witten to welco him.
The basics of courtesy, of course, had to be maintained. Besides, if he didn't co down personally, there was no way Peter Schultz could enter the building unless Dou Dou vouched for him.
"Peter, you finally made it. Ever since I heard you were coming, I've been looking forward to seeing you in person here every single day. But… you really picked quite the timing. The day before New Year's Eve—is this intentional? Because if you'd co any later, we'd all be on leave tomorrow. After all, tomorrow is New Year's Eve, Huaxia's most important holiday."
Edward Witten greeted the young German man with a smile upon seeing him.
"New Year's Eve?" Edward Witten's pronunciation of the term was already not quite accurate, but when Peter Schultz said it, it ca out distorted to the point of being almost indescribable. At that mont, Peter Schultz was looking at Qiao Ze. If not for Qiao Ze's high tolerance for humor, he definitely would have laughed at the pronunciation of the term: "I'd always thought the most important festival in Huaxia was the Spring Festival."
"You can think of Huaxia's New Year's Eve as being similar to Christmas Eve." Qiao Ze explained simply, then added, "Welco, Professor Schultz."
"Thank you. It seems my timing really wasn't bad. So we're really starting the holiday tomorrow?" Peter Schultz seed a bit lost; had he known this earlier, he wouldn't have rushed so much to get here.
But to him, the timing of Huaxia's Spring Festival really belonged to the realm of "trivia knowledge."
"Yes, though beginning tomorrow evening, I plan to take three days off." Qiao Ze replied.
The tradition has always been to take three days off during the Spring Festival, and Qiao Ze was used to it by now.
The main reason being he still had elderly family mbers at ho, and he was already married. Otherwise, whether to observe the holiday would've been a trivial matter for him.
In a certain sense, Qiao Ze was one of the happiest people. His work was precisely what he was most passionate about, and it also had imnse value on a global scale.
"Oh, then that's alright."
"Alright, let's head upstairs and talk more. Your office has been prepared—it's right next to mine, separated only by a door. By the way, during these couple of days, feel free to join . The institute has organized lots of interesting activities for us. And during the rest of the ti, I can take you around Xilin City—you can trust , by the ti the holidays are over, you'll be a real Xilin local."
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